Washington (CNN) - Sen. Kelly Ayotte said Wednesday she hopes her Republican colleague Sen. Ted Cruz doesn't try to hold up a Senate vote to end the government shutdown and raise the debt limit before Thursday's deadline to avoid default.

"It's up to him. I would hope he wouldn't," the New Hampshire Republican said on CNN's "New Day." "Senators can cause to you run out the clock, but what's he trying to gain at this point? I would hope that whatever comes forward, that we would allow a vote on it as soon as possible."Follow @politicaltickerFollow @KilloughCNN

Cruz was at the forefront of a Republican strategy to tie anti-Obamacare provisions to must-pass spending legislation last month, a strategy Senate Democrats warned they would reject. Ultimately the move led to the ongoing government shutdown, which started taking effect October 1.

Lawmakers are now trying to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling in one package, but as Congress nears Thursday's deadline, it appears increasingly unlikely they will pass legislation in time.

Ayotte, who's been part of a bipartisan group of senators working to reach a deal, said the Obamacare tactic was "an ill-conceived strategy from the beginning, not a winning strategy."

A spokesman for Cruz tells Dana Bash that he is not commenting on a hypothetical and will not say what he will do until the senator sees a final deal.

Cruz had a dinner meeting Monday night with a group of House conservatives, and discussed the emerging Senate deal and how they may react to it. The Texas Republican has been having conversations and meetings with various House conservatives throughout the impasse - something that has rankled House GOP leaders.

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, was at the meeting, which took place at a Tex-Mex restaurant on Capitol Hill called Tortilla Coast, but he didn't reveal too many details about what was discussed at the dinner table.

"I'll say this, he made some strong, good points. He's taken a leadership position on this from a fiscally responsible and constitutional perspective," King said Wednesday on "New Day."

soundoff(37 Responses)

Look who is getting primaried next time. If only Texas had seceded before the Civil War, we would have had no Perry, Cruz, Cornyn, W, HW.

October 16, 2013 09:33 am at 9:33 am |

Anonymous

These are the people who are voting against the wishes of the American people. They don't want what either party has to offer.

October 16, 2013 09:35 am at 9:35 am |

The Real Tom Paine

At this point, its about Ted Cruz and his viewpoint. This is the problem when you elect a debate champion and not someone who wants to solve problems. He will talk until the cows come home, trying to spin default as a positive good in much the same way John C Calhoun did on slavery, but in the end the only ones hurt by this will be us. Cruz has made the mistake of confusing what is good for him with what is good for the country.

October 16, 2013 09:38 am at 9:38 am |

jpmichigan

ACA is little by little doing harm to its self. When one rushes through with a good idea, laced with bad ideas, it is just a matter of time before it fizzles out. Time to concentrate on the MAIN focus the debt ceiling and the budget, short fix is needed, then further the actions of the sequester. Cut back on spending and the size of government. SOMEONE NEEDS REAL LOOK AT TERM LIMITS. Let fresh new faces with fresh new ideas prevail. OUT WITH THE OLD AND FORWARD WITH THE NEW. Tea partiers are no different then Progressive Democrats, just different party lines.

October 16, 2013 09:39 am at 9:39 am |

rs

Mr. Cruz (who spent the evening trying to get House GOPpers to not vote today) needs to be detained for anti-government activities, and obstruction. Next up, we need to go after DeMint's Heritage Foundation for sustaining the GOP coup.

Ted Cruz is the only one who stands for the constitution. He is doing what he was elected to do. My insurance went up cause of obama care. I am tired of paying for people who don't want to work and smoke dope all day. We don't need another entitlement.

October 16, 2013 09:40 am at 9:40 am |

Gary

That's the only thing I agree with Ayotte on. The whole country want's Cruz to stay out of the way.

October 16, 2013 09:42 am at 9:42 am |

What's in that tea anyway?

Forget it Ayotte! You guys should have told this crazy Right Wing nut job to sit down and shut up a long time ago...Now you have no power what so ever. This is the next GOP Nominee for Pres. your new leader. Show some respect. Follow the lead idiot as is the requirements of the GOP/Tea trolls party

October 16, 2013 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

Dave Scoven

"Primaried." What an ugly threat. And just for that, if she does have a Tea Party opponent, I'll send her money. I'll even go on Facebook and encourage other Dems to do the same.

October 16, 2013 09:45 am at 9:45 am |

jinx9to88

When one wacko bird tells another wacko bird to stay out of something you know wacko bird number 1 (Cruz) is really wacko.

October 16, 2013 09:47 am at 9:47 am |

Hector Slagg

Well,
Alford E. Newman say WHAT, ME WORRY, NERO FIDDLE, LIBERAL'S TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY. PEASANTS BELONG TO THE KNOW NOTHING, AND PROUD OF IT CROWD. and Progressives Sell Snake Oil. Real Heroes eventually burn in Hell. Since when in the last 100 years did any Liberal take responsibility for anything. The old Vaudville Adage is alive and well in Washington. WITH YOUR MONEY AND MY BRAINS, WE WILL GO PLACES. So tell me, Liberal's/Progressives, after 17 Trillion in big ideas, where are we?

October 16, 2013 09:54 am at 9:54 am |

Rick McDaniel

The GOP doesn't want to admit, that they are caving in, and allowing Obama to have his way with the country.......and continue to expand the debt, at a dangerous rate.

October 16, 2013 09:55 am at 9:55 am |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

He's taken a leadership position on this from a fiscally responsible and constitutional perspective," King said
-------------------------------------------------
From a "constitutional" perspective?
How constitutional is it to try to defund, derail, and abolish a LAW by holding the countrie's financial commitments hostage?
I thought that there were processes in place like winning elections for example to address these issues. I don't think that the constitution allows for domestic terrorism from a lunatic albeit well-funded minority.

October 16, 2013 09:56 am at 9:56 am |

Lynda/Minnesota

" ... but what's he trying to gain at this point?"

Well, Senator Ayotte he has gained a great deal thus far. He's managed to bloviate for 21 hours with the media's approval, shutdown the government with the media's approval, and crash a few public affairs with the media's approval.

Surely she of all people ought to understand how far Cruz is willing to stand up for his ... er, fundraising antics. She was equally "forceful" in HER own fundraising antics a few months back.

Benghazi. Benghazi. Benghazi.

October 16, 2013 09:57 am at 9:57 am |

Jill-IN

Cruz should be shunned by all senators and congressmen.

October 16, 2013 09:57 am at 9:57 am |

J Robinson

Seems like a modern day Missouri Compromise. Kicking the can down the road, strengthening entrenched positions, fueling a more intense future confrontation. Let us hope this parallel does not play out further.

October 16, 2013 09:58 am at 9:58 am |

Bill

As I have said many times before, Cruz with be a one-term senator. End of story.

October 16, 2013 09:58 am at 9:58 am |

Rudy NYC

If you've ever wondered just what "conservative values and principles" actually are, you've been watching them in action over the past month or so.

October 16, 2013 10:00 am at 10:00 am |

Al-NY,NY

a little late there Kelly don't ya think? What's the matter....can't get the fleas off after laying down with that dog?

October 16, 2013 10:06 am at 10:06 am |

S. B. Stein

It was tried once and failed. Anything after that can be deemed being crazy.

October 16, 2013 10:12 am at 10:12 am |

Pete

Why don't someone with half a brain look up amendment 3 ,article III of our American Constitution under acts of treason..Republicans are holding up government progress and should be held to the same standards they'd be held at years ago..At that time Cruz and his collegues would be hanging by ropes in the gallows for far less than this..Ignorence is bliss and at midterms republicans will see a repeat of "96 when Newt and hid fellow buds when down in a massive defeat!!

October 16, 2013 10:20 am at 10:20 am |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

Lynda/Minnesota
Well, Senator Ayotte he has gained a great deal thus far. He's managed to bloviate for 21 hours with the media's approval, shutdown the government with the media's approval, and crash a few public affairs with the media's approval.
-------------------------------------------------
Something else that you and I agree on Lynda, that being the role, the HUGE role that the media plays in giving these people a platform.
If only responsible journalism/reporting would come make a comeback I assure you that none of the lies, fear, and outfight hate that is currently being fanned would've taken the hold that it has.
What is wrong with reporting the truth versus just what is being spewed by Cruz and the Gang?

October 16, 2013 10:20 am at 10:20 am |

Abe Rodriguez

You got to remember that Ted Cruz was not even born in the United States , he is a Canadian . He is what republicans call an "anchor baby"' born to to an American mother, so his Cuban father could get into the US . Now he claims that since his mother was born in the USA , and is an American citizen that makes him a 100 per cent American.well it takes two to tango, using the same logic, since his father was born in Cuba and was a Cuban citizen that ought to make him a Cuban . Like a Fidel Castro Cuban . Abe

October 16, 2013 10:25 am at 10:25 am |

ST

Senators want Cruz to get out of the way in voting. Myself and others want he should be deported immediately. He is a big burden to the country and the entire world as a whole.

October 16, 2013 10:38 am at 10:38 am |

Lynda/Minnesota

"What is wrong with reporting the truth versus just what is being spewed by Cruz and the Gang?"

Oh, my. The million dollar question. What is wrong, you ask? Ha, I reply. The same points that you and I make each and every time we try to converse with one another and are not allowed to by the powers that be ... IS the current media narrative. We aren't conforming to certain "hate thy neighbor" media guidelines. Thus we and our viewpoints are not important.

Same applies to politics. Those who go to Congress and actually DO what they were sent to do (i.e. keep our government running) are silenced by those who use both our government AND our media to their advantage.